Atlanta metropolitan area
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{{Cleanup|date=November 2007}}
{{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}}
{{Infobox Metropolitan Area |
MSA_name = {{nowrap|Atlanta Metropolitan Area}} |
name = Metro Atlanta |
map = Atlanta-metroclean.png |
largest_city = [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] |
other_cities = - [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]<br/> - [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]]<br/> - [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]] |
rank_us = 9<sup>th</sup> |
population = 5,278,904 (2007 est.)<sup>[http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2007/CBSA-EST2007-01.csv]</sup> |
density_mi2 = 630 |
density_km2 = 243 |
area_mi2 = 8,376 |
area_km2 = 21,694 |
states = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] |
highest_ft = 1808 |
highest_m = 551 |
lowest_ft = N/A |
lowest_m = N/A
}}
The '''Atlanta metropolitan area''', commonly referred to as '''metro Atlanta''' in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], is the [[United States metropolitan area|ninth-largest]] [[metropolitan area]] in the [[United States]] and consists of 28 counties in Georgia. According to the 2000 [[Census]], the metropolitan area had a [[population]] of 4,247,981, though the 2007 Census estimate shows 5,278,904 people living in the area. According to the 2007 population estimates, the 28-county Atlanta metropolitan area is currently the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States based on numerical gains. The city of [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] is only the 34th-largest city in the country, largely due to the area's patterns of [[urban sprawl]] and the city's inability to [[annexation|annex]] as have such cities as [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] and [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]. Atlanta's [[combined statistical area]], or CSA, had a population in 2000 of 4,584,234. As of [[July 1]] [[2007]] the population of the CSA is estimated to be 5,626,400.
According to the [[world city|ranking of world cities]] undertaken by the [[Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network]] and based on the level of presence of global corporate service organizations, Atlanta is considered a "Gamma World City."<ref>[http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citymap.html The World According to GaWC], GaWC, [[Loughborough University]]</ref>
==Counties==
{|cellpadding=0 cellspacing=5
|-
|valign="top"|
; Alphabetical:
* [[Barrow County, Georgia|Barrow]] (67,139)
* [[Bartow County, Georgia|Bartow]] (92,834)
* [[Butts County, Georgia|Butts]] (23,759)
* [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll]] (111,954)
* [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee]] (204,363)
* [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton]] (272,217)
* [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]] (691,905)
* [[Coweta County, Georgia|Coweta]] (118,936)
* [[Dawson County, Georgia|Dawson]] (21,484)
* [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb]] (737,093)
* [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas]] (124,495)
* [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette]] (106,144)
* [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth]] (158,914)
* [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton]] (992,137)
|valign="top"|
* [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett]] (776,380)
* [[Haralson County, Georgia|Haralson]] (28,718)
* [[Heard County, Georgia|Heard]] (11,387)
* [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry]] (186,037)
* [[Jasper County, Georgia|Jasper]] (13,660)
* [[Lamar County, Georgia|Lamar]] (16,961)
* [[Meriwether County, Georgia|Meriwether]] (22,748)
* [[Newton County, Georgia|Newton]] (96,019)
* [[Paulding County, Georgia|Paulding]] (127,906)
* [[Pickens County, Georgia|Pickens]] (30,488)
* [[Pike County, Georgia|Pike]] (17,204)
* [[Rockdale County, Georgia|Rockdale]] (82,052)
* [[Spalding County, Georgia|Spalding]] (62,826)
* [[Walton County, Georgia|Walton]] (83,144)
|valign="top" width=1 bgcolor=silver|
|valign="top"|
; By population:
* [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton]] (992,137)
* [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett]] (776,380)
* [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb]] (737,093)
* [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]] (691,905)
* [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton]] (272,217)
* [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee]] (204,363)
* [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry]] (186,037)
* [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth]] (158,914)
* [[Paulding County, Georgia|Paulding]] (127,906)
* [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas]] (124,495)
* [[Coweta County, Georgia|Coweta]] (118,936)
* [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll]] (111,954)
* [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette]] (106,144)
|valign="top"|
* [[Newton County, Georgia|Newton]] (96,019)
* [[Bartow County, Georgia|Bartow]] (92,834)
* [[Walton County, Georgia|Walton]] (83,144)
* [[Rockdale County, Georgia|Rockdale]] (82,052)
* [[Barrow County, Georgia|Barrow]] (67,139)
* [[Spalding County, Georgia|Spalding]] (62,826)
* [[Pickens County, Georgia|Pickens]] (30,488)
* [[Haralson County, Georgia|Haralson]] (28,718)
* [[Butts County, Georgia|Butts]] (23,759)
* [[Meriwether County, Georgia|Meriwether]] (22,748)
* [[Dawson County, Georgia|Dawson]] (21,484)
* [[Pike County, Georgia|Pike]] (17,204)
* [[Lamar County, Georgia|Lamar]] (16,961)
* [[Jasper County, Georgia|Jasper]] (13,660)
* [[Heard County, Georgia|Heard]] (11,387)
|}
==Municipalities==
===Anchor city===
* [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]
===[[Edge city|Edge cities]]===
*[[Perimeter Center]] (split by [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] and [[Dunwoody, Georgia|Dunwoody]])
*[[Cumberland (Atlanta)|Cumberland]]
*[[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]]
===Major suburbs===
These are communities with more than 10,000 inhabitants within their [[city limit]]s or CDP [[boundary]].
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[Acworth, Georgia|Acworth]]
* [[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]]
* [[Belvedere Park, Georgia|Belvedere Park]] (CDP)
* [[Buckhead (Atlanta)|Buckhead]] (within city limits)
* [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]]
* [[Candler-McAfee, Georgia|Candler-McAfee]] (CDP)
* [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]
* [[Carrollton, Georgia|Carrollton]]
* [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]]
* [[College Park, Georgia|College Park]]
* [[Conyers, Georgia|Conyers]]
* [[Covington, Georgia|Covington]]
* [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]]
* [[Douglasville, Georgia|Douglasville]]
* [[Druid Hills, Georgia|Druid Hills]] (CDP)
* [[Duluth, Georgia|Duluth]]
* [[Dunwoody, Georgia|Dunwoody]] (CDP)
* [[East Point, Georgia|East Point]]
* [[Fayetteville, Georgia|Fayetteville]]
* [[Flowery Branch, Georgia|Flowery Branch]]
* [[Forest Park, Georgia|Forest Park]]
* [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]]
* [[Griffin, Georgia|Griffin]]
* [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]]
* [[Kennesaw, Georgia|Kennesaw]]
* [[Lawrenceville, Georgia|Lawrenceville]]
* [[Lilburn, Georgia|Lilburn]]
* [[Lithonia, Georgia|Lithonia]]
* [[Mableton, Georgia|Mableton]] (CDP)
* [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]]
* [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]]
* [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]]
* [[Monroe, Georgia|Monroe]]
* [[Mountain Park, Gwinnett County, Georgia|Mountain Park, Gwinnett County]] (CDP)
* [[Newnan, Georgia|Newnan]]
* [[Norcross, Georgia|Norcross]]
* [[North Atlanta, Georgia|North Atlanta]] (CDP)
* [[North Decatur, Georgia|North Decatur]] (CDP)
* [[North Druid Hills, Georgia|North Druid Hills]] (CDP)
* [[Panthersville, Georgia|Panthersville]] (CDP)
* [[Peachtree City, Georgia|Peachtree City]]
* [[Powder Springs, Georgia|Powder Springs]]
* [[Redan, Georgia|Redan]] (CDP)
* [[Riverdale, Georgia|Riverdale]]
* [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]]
* [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]
* [[Smyrna, Georgia|Smyrna]]
* [[Snellville, Georgia|Snellville]]
* [[Stockbridge, Georgia|Stockbridge]]
* [[Sugar Hill, Georgia|Sugar Hill]]
* [[Suwanee, Georgia|Suwanee]]
* [[Tucker, Georgia|Tucker]] (CDP)
* [[Union City, Georgia|Union City]]
* [[Villa Rica, Georgia|Villa Rica]]
* [[Winder, Georgia|Winder]]
* [[Woodstock, Georgia|Woodstock]]
</div>
===Minor suburbs===
These are communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[Adamsville (Atlanta)|Adamsville]]
* [[Auburn, Georgia|Auburn]]
* [[Austell, Georgia|Austell]]
* [[Avondale Estates, Georgia|Avondale Estates]]
* [[Ball Ground, Georgia|Ball Ground]]
* [[Berkeley Lake, Georgia|Berkeley Lake]]
* [[Braselton, Georgia|Braselton]]
* [[Bremen, Georgia|Bremen]]
* [[Carl, Georgia|Carl]]
* [[Cassville, Georgia|Cassville]]
* [[Chamblee, Georgia|Chamblee]]
* Chattahoochee Plantation,Georgia
* [[Clarkston, Georgia|Clarkston]]
* [[Conley, Georgia|Conley]] (CDP)
* [[Cumming, Georgia|Cumming]]
* [[Dacula, Georgia|Dacula]]
* [[Dallas, Georgia|Dallas]]
* [[Doraville, Georgia|Doraville]]
* [[East Griffin, Georgia|East Griffin]] (CDP)
* [[East Newnan, Georgia|East Newnan]] (CDP)
* [[Emerson, Georgia|Emerson]]
* [[Fair Oaks, Georgia|Fair Oaks]] (CDP)
* [[Fairburn, Georgia|Fairburn]]
* [[Flowery Branch, Georgia|Flowery Branch]]
* [[Grayson, Georgia|Grayson]]
* [[Greenville, Georgia|Greenville]]
* [[Gresham Park, Georgia|Gresham Park]] (CDP)
* [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]]
* [[Hapeville, Georgia|Hapeville]]
* [[Haralson, Georgia|Haralson]]
* [[Hiram, Georgia|Hiram]]
* [[Holly Springs, Georgia|Holly Springs]]
* [[Irondale, Georgia|Irondale]] (CDP)
* [[Jasper, Georgia|Jasper]]
* [[Jonesboro, Georgia|Jonesboro]]
* [[Lake City, Georgia|Lake City]]
* [[Lakeview Estates, Georgia|Lakeview Estates]] (CDP)
* [[Lebanon, Georgia|Lebanon]]
* [[Lithia Springs, Georgia|Lithia Springs]] (CDP)
* [[Lithonia, Georgia|Lithonia]]
* [[Locust Grove, Georgia|Locust Grove]]
* [[Loganville, Georgia|Loganville]]
* [[Lovejoy, Georgia|Lovejoy]]
* [[Morrow, Georgia|Morrow]]
* [[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park, Fulton County]]
* [[Norcross, Georgia|Norcross]]
* [[Oakwood, Georgia|Oakwood]]
* [[Oxford, Georgia|Oxford]]
* [[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]]
* [[Pine Lake, Georgia|Pine Lake]]
* [[Porterdale, Georgia|Porterdale]]
* [[Rest Haven, Georgia|Rest Haven]]
* [[Scottdale, Georgia|Scottdale]]
* [[Senoia, Georgia|Senoia]]
* [[Sharpsburg, Georgia|Sharpsburg]]
* [[Social Circle, Georgia|Social Circle]]
* [[Stone Mountain, Georgia|Stone Mountain]]
* [[Tallapoosa, Georgia|Tallapoosa]]
* [[Temple, Georgia|Temple]]
* [[Tyrone, Georgia|Tyrone]]
* [[Vinings, Georgia|Vinings]] (CDP)
* [[Waleska, Georgia|Waleska]]
</div>
===Exurban communities===
These are far-out communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[Adairsville, Georgia|Adairsville]]
* [[Athens, Georgia|Athens]]
* [[Bethlehem, Georgia|Bethlehem]]
* [[Between, Georgia|Between]]
* [[Blacksville, Georgia|Blacksville]] (CDP)
* [[Bonanza, Georgia|Bonanza]] (CDP)
* [[Bowdon, Georgia|Bowdon]]
* [[Braswell, Georgia|Braswell]]
* [[Brooks, Georgia|Brooks]]
* [[Corinth, Georgia|Corinth]]
* [[Euharlee, Georgia|Euharlee]]
* [[Experiment, Georgia|Experiment]] (CDP)
* [[Good Hope, Georgia|Good Hope]]
* [[Grantville, Georgia|Grantville]]
* [[Jersey, Georgia|Jersey]]
* [[Kingston, Georgia|Kingston]]
* [[Mansfield, Georgia|Mansfield]]
* [[Moreland, Georgia|Moreland]]
* [[Mount Zion, Georgia|Mount Zion]]
* [[Newborn, Georgia|Newborn]]
* [[Orchard Hill, Georgia|Orchard Hill]]
* [[Roopville, Georgia|Roopville]]
* [[Statham, Georgia|Statham]]
* [[Sunny Side, Georgia|Sunny Side]]
* [[Taylorsville, Georgia|Taylorsville]]
* [[Turin, Georgia|Turin]]
* [[Walnut Grove, Georgia|Walnut Grove]]
* [[White, Georgia|White]]
* [[Whitesburg, Georgia|Whitesburg]]
* [[Woolsey, Georgia|Woolsey]]
</div>
==Government and politics==
[[Image:MariettaGeorgia.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|Historic Downtown Marietta's town square]]
Georgia has the smallest average county size of any state which operates county governments.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} This focuses government more locally but allows greater conflict between jurisdictions. The first significant [[intergovernmental agency]] in metro Atlanta was the [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority]], which runs the MARTA [[public transportation]] system. Alongside other factors, problems associated with the [[inner city]] of Atlanta ([[crime]], [[poverty]], [[racism]], poor [[public school]] performance, etc) influenced Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton county voters to refuse MARTA into their respective counties during the 1970s.
The [[Atlanta Regional Commission]] is so far the closest that the area has come to a [[metropolitan government]]. It only approves projects deemed to have an impact beyond the immediate area in which they are placed. The [[Georgia Regional Transportation Authority]] is somewhat of a cross between ARC and MARTA, searching mainly for [[alternative transportation]] such as buses and trains. GRTA also operates [[Georgia Regional Transportation Authority#XPress service|XPress buses]] from counties that have otherwise refused to join in [[public transport]] [[initiative]]s, and could operate [[commuter rail]] service in the future. Currently, plans for commuter rail and eventual [[intercity rail]] are the responsibility of the [[Georgia Rail Passenger Authority]].
Despite meeting in Atlanta, on land donated to it by the city for the [[Georgia State Capitol]], the [[Georgia General Assembly]] has often been at odds with the city. During the mid-2000s, the legislature voted to force Atlanta to abandon its [[living wage]] law. It also tried to vote against the city's tree-protection [[ordinance]], a move which which would have allowed any tree in Georgia to be destroyed for any reason had it passed.
Funding formulas for roads have also been skewed toward rural legislators' [[political district]]s, particularly the [[Governor's Road Improvement Plan]] (GRIP), which encouraged divided highways even in places where they were not justified by actual or projected traffic. This, combined with a state constitution which prohibits [[motor fuel tax]]es from being used on anything other than roads (including on [[public transportation]] that eases [[traffic]] on those roads) has left the metro area in a very difficult situation when it comes to [[transportation]].
There have been proposals in 2007 to allow new multi-county sales taxes, in addition to existing county sales taxes for roads, which would pay for regional transportation initiatives. [http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/legis07/stories/2007/01/05/transportation.html] However, long-time powerful road [[lobbyist]]s in the state have pushed for proposals heavily skewed toward more roads and little or no alternative transportation systems, like the ones which are being expanded in other major metro areas of the South like [[Nashville]], [[Charlotte]], and [[Miami]].
==Transportation==
===Rail===
Before Atlanta was even a city, it was a [[railroad]] [[hub]]. From this came the joke, popular among other Southerners, that "regardless of whether one goes to [[heaven]] or [[hell]], everyone must go through Atlanta first." Many of its suburbs pre-date it as [[depot]]s or [[train station]]s along the major lines in and out of town. Through [[merger]]s, the main railroads in the area are now [[Norfolk Southern]] and [[CSX]]. The [[Georgia Northeastern Railroad]] is a [[short line]] that also services part of the area.
===Air===
[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] is the only [[international airport]] for the region (and only major international airport for the state), and as with rail travel, it became the [[ubiquitous]] place through which everyone must travel at some point. Other airports include [[Charlie Brown Field]], [[McCollum Field]], [[Cartersville Airport]], [[DeKalb Peachtree Airport]], [[Briscoe Field]], and the [[Clayton County Airport - Tara Field|Clayton County Airport]]. [[Atlanta's second airport]] is in the very preliminary discussion and study phase.
===Local roads===
There are many historic roads across the area, named after [[historic mills of the Atlanta area|its mills]] and [[historic ferries of the Atlanta area|early ferries]], and [[historic bridges of the Atlanta area|the bridges]] later built to replace the ferries. [[Pace's Ferry]] is perhaps the best known.
Owing to the area's long history of settlement (unlike the [[Las Vegas metropolitan area]], for example) and uneven terrain, most [[arterial road]]s are not straight, and instead curve around. This can be confusing for visitors, much more so than the famed proliferation of Atlanta city streets with "[[Peachtree]]" in the name.
The region maintains the nomenclature of each county naming its roads for the towns they connect with in surrounding counties. Thus, from Dallas to Roswell, [[Georgia 120]] is Marietta Highway to the Paulding/Cobb county line, Dallas Highway to the city of Marietta, Whitlock Avenue to the [[town square]], South Park Square for just one [[city block]], Roswell Street to [[Cobb Parkway]] (at the [[Big Chicken]]), Roswell Road to the Cobb/Fulton county line, and finally Marietta Street to the town square in Roswell.
There are many roads like this throughout the area, leading to duplication of names in different counties. In Fulton, "[[Roswell Road]]" refers to [[Georgia 9]] through northern Atlanta and across Sandy Springs, in addition to the above-mentioned use in Cobb, for example. Numeric [[street address]]ing is done by county as well, with the origin usually being at one corner of the town square in the county seat. The [[U.S. Postal Service]] ignores these actual and logical boundaries however, overlapping [[ZIP code]]s and their associated place names across counties. The Cumberland/Galleria area has Cobb's numbers and an "SE" suffix, but is called "Atlanta" by the USPS, which can confuse visitors to think it is far away in southeast Atlanta.
Where more than one town in the same county has a road to the same place, the smaller towns have their own name prefixed to it, while the [[county seat]] does not. The road need not go directly to the other place, but may connect through other roads. Examples include Due West Road west from Marietta, Kennesaw Due West Road southwest from Kennesaw, and Acworth Due West Road south from Acworth. Some are usually [[hyphen]]ated, like Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, and [[Chamblee-Tucker Road]].
There are also several roads named for communities which have been overwhelmed by the urban and suburban sprawl, and so are usually not recognized by newcomers. These include [[Sandy Plains, Georgia|Sandy Plains]], [[Crabapple, Georgia|Crabapple]], [[Toonigh, Georgia|Toonigh]], [[Ashford, Georgia|Ashford]], and [[Due West, Georgia|Due West]]. Some of these communities are in the middle of the road, while some are at or very near one end. Some places get renamed, either over time (Sandy Plains gradually became "Sprayberry" when [[Sprayberry High School]] moved there and similarly-named shopping centers popped up around it), by the USPS (Toonigh is identified as "Lebanon"), or by new suburbanites who don't think the existing name is good enough (Hog Mountain is now "Hamilton Mill". In this case, the roads usually maintain their names even if the places do not.
Several of these roads have become arterials, while others remain pleasant two-lane drives. Many are state roads as well, though [[GDOT]] has the habit of moving numbered routes onto other roads, sometimes arbitrarily, and occasionally sending them through an entirely different town. State highway numbers also tend to curve around arbitrarily while their directional signs do not, rendering them useless where they indicate "north" and "south" in places the road goes east and west. There are also a few [[U.S. highway]]s that cross the area, including [[U.S. 19|19]], [[U.S. 23|23]], [[U.S. 41|41]], and [[U.S. 78|78]].
Other arterials are completely new, like much of [[Barrett Parkway]] and [[South Fulton Parkway]], both constructed by their counties but partly covered with a state route number. Occasionally, roads are realigned or extended to meet each other directly at a cross-road, leading to odd curves and name changes.
===Freeways===
Metro Atlanta is served by six major [[interstate highway]] routes to and from the city. [[I-75]] is the busiest and carries a great deal of [[truck]] traffic, running south-southeast to [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]] and onward to [[Florida]] and northwest to [[Chattanooga]] (and I-575 to [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]). [[I-85]] runs southwest to [[Auburn, Alabama|Auburn]] and [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] (and I-185 to [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]]), and northeast to [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]/[[Spartanburg, South Carolina|Spartanburg]] and [[Charlotte]] (and I-985 to [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]]). [[I-20]] runs east to [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]] and [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]], and west to [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]] and [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]].
[[I-285]] encircles the city, and is called the Perimeter. I-75/85 is joined through [[downtown]] Atlanta, called the [[Downtown Connector]]. I-675 joins I-75 in the south metro to the southeastern end of I-285. [[Georgia State Route 400|Georgia 400]] runs north to [[Alpharetta]], then somewhat northeast to [[Dahlonega]] in the [[mountain]]s. The [[GDOT]] had originally planned to connect 400 and 675 as I-475, but this was cancelled, as was east-west [[Interstate 420 (Georgia)|Interstate 420]] and [[Interstate 485 (Georgia)|Interstate 485]]
Currently, I-75 is 15 lanes wide north of the Windy Hill Road interchange (8 northbound, 7 southbound), and as such, is the widest freeway in the United States. The [[Northwest Corridor HOV/BRT]] project from [[GRTA]] aims to add [[HOV lane]]s to I-75 and I-575 for cars and BRT, adding new lanes and exits, as well as lanes for [[tractor-trailer]]s only. The project plans to expand the freeway from I-285 northward to the Wade Green Road interchange, making it to 26 lanes (13 lanes each both northbound and southbound) at Windy Hill.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Construction costs for the project are expected to be about 10 billion dollars and it should take about 15 years to complete.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Hundreds of homes and businesses would be taken for the project.
The intersection of I-285 and Georgia 400 (a freeway running from Atlanta to Cumming and Dahlonega) is slated to become the biggest [[stack interchange]] in the world{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, which will encompass [[collector-distributor lane]]s, as well as 130-foot (40m) flyover lanes{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, from 285 to 400, and from 400 to 285. Construction costs are expected to be around 2 billion dollars{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
===Rapid transit===
Although Atlanta has always been a railroad town, and the city once had an extensive [[streetcar]] system as far out as Marietta (about 15 miles or 25km northwest), modern rapid transit has been an exceedingly difficult and drawn-out process, putting the metro area well-behind comparable cities.
[[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] operates [[rapid transit]] in Fulton and Dekalb counties, while Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties operate their own [[bus]]es with no current [[railroad|rail]] transit. This is a result of those counties refusal to join the MARTA system, a situation which was originally closely related to [[white flight]] from the city. It is the only U.S. system in which the state fails to provide any funds for operation or expansion, instead relying entirely on a 1% [[sales tax]].
Plans are underway for commuter rail and [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT), though these are some years away. The first [[commuter rail]] line would run south of the city, eventually extended to [[Lovejoy, Georgia|Lovejoy]] and possibly [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]] near [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]]. This project took two decades under Democrats, and has now been threatened by some Republicans in the [[Georgia General Assembly]] as being "wasteful", despite being successful in every other U.S. city that has it. The "[[Brain Train]]" would likely be the second route, connecting the [[University of Georgia]] in Athens to [[Emory University]] and [[Georgia Tech]] in Atlanta.
As planned, all commuter trains would arrive at the [[Atlanta Multimodal Passenger Terminal]], the long-delayed facility just across [[Peachtree Street]] from the [[Five Points (MARTA station)|Five Points MARTA station]], where all of its lines meet. The planning for the system, and its extension as [[intercity rail]] across the state, is the responsibility of the [[Georgia Rail Passenger Authority]].
==Business and commerce==
===Communications===
The area is the world's largest toll-free calling zone spanning 7162 [[square miles]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metroatlantachamber.com/macoc/business/img/alookatatlanta.pdf|title=A Look at Atlanta|date=May 2006|publisher=Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce|pages=11|accessdate=2008-07-05|format=PDF}}</ref>, has three active [[telephone]] [[telephone numbering plan|area code]]s, and local calling extending into portions of two others. [[area code 404|404]], which originally covered all of northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] until 1992, now covers mostly the area inside the [[Perimeter (Atlanta)|Perimeter]] (Interstate 285). In 1995, the [[suburb]]s were put into [[area code 770|770]], and [[area code 678|678]] was overlaid onto both in 1998, requiring mandatory ten-digit dialing even for local calls under [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] rules. [[Cellphone]]s, originally only 404, may now have any local area code regardless of where in the region they were issued. Area code 470 will be the next area code, overlaid as was 678. The local calling area also includes portions of [[area code 706|706]] and a small area of [[area code 256|256]] on the Alabama-Georgia border.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localcallingguide.com/lprefix.php?exch=032460&dir=1|publisher=Localcallingguide.com|accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref>
Atlanta enjoys the world's biggest fiber optic bundle,{{Fact|date=December 2007}} and was America's first city to employ [[ten-digit dialing]],{{Fact|date=December 2007}} which was begun by [[BellSouth]] right before the Centennial [[1996 Olympic Games]] came to Atlanta.
Major [[fiber-optic]] lines and [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] [[pipeline transport|pipeline]]s cross the area, running from the [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] [[coast]], [[Texas]], and [[Louisiana]] to the population centers of the [[northeastern U.S.]]
===Other utilities===
Metro Atlanta primarily uses [[natural gas]] for [[central heating]] and [[water heater]]s, with the major exception of [[heat pump]]s in [[apartment]]s built during and since the 1980s. Because winters are mild, and units share walls in a large building, they generally need a lot of heat only on the coldest nights. Backup heat (also used during [[defrost]]ing) is usually supplied by electric [[resistance heating]], though some homes have [[hybrid heat]]ing units which use gas backup when it is cold. Exurban homes may also use all-electric instead of gas, if gas [[mains]] have not been extended to an area.
[[Cooktop]]s and [[oven]]s are a mix of gas and electric, while gas [[clothes dryer]]s are rather rare. Nearly all homes have a [[fireplace]] with a manual-[[valve]] gas starter, and some are now equipped with permanent [[gas log]]s with electric [[switch]] start. Some homes also have natural gas [[Grill (cooking)|barbecue grill]]s, formerly sold at utility company stores.
[[Georgia Power]] is the main [[electric power]] company across the state and the metro area, beginning in 1902 as [[Georgia Railway and Power Company]], Atlanta's [[streetcar]] ([[trolley]]) company. Several [[electric membership corporation]]s also serve the suburbs, including [[Cobb EMC]] and [[Sawnee EMC]]. The city of Marietta operates its own electric utility, [[Marietta Power]], under the Board of Lights & Water (BLW). It is also a member of the [[Municipal Electric Association of Georgia]] (MEAG).
[[Atlanta Gas Light]] is the [[natural gas]] utility for the region, and has been so for well over a [[century]], since it installed [[gas lamp]]s in Atlanta. It operated as a [[regulated monopoly]] until November 1998, the after the state legislature voted in early 1997 to [[deregulate]] natural gas [[marketing]], and make customers choose among nearly 20 different marketers still selling the same AGL-[[wholesale]]d gas. Most of the gas comes from [[Louisiana]].
Water is provided by various county and a few city systems. Several of these systems actually serve parts of neighboring counties and cities as well. The [[Cobb-Marietta Water Authority]] serves not only Cobb, but also parts of neighboring Paulding and Cherokee counties, for example. During [[drought]] or other [[emergency]], cities and counties can enact [[outdoor water-use restriction]]s, however some cross-[[jurisdiction]] [[water system]]s have also acted to put bans in place. In late September 2007, the state [[Environmental Protection Division]] of the [[Georgia Department of Natural Resources]], stepped-in with its first-even ban, covering most of the north-northwestern half of the state. While [[surface water]] is by far the primary source of water for the region, the drought has many systems (and a few wealthy homeowners) drilling new [[Water well|well]]s for [[ground water]], though the local [[water table]] is around 400 feet or 120 meters deep, on [[average]].
[[Sewerage]] is also handled by the water utilities, however the various water and sewer networks may not conform to the same boundaries, resulting in [[interbasin water transfer]]s. This is for practical reasons, because the area is hilly and divided by several [[drainage divide|watershed]]s, because the area has developed irregularly and erratically, and because [[water treatment plant]]s are usually not near [[sewage treatment plant]]s. [[Septic tank]]s are still used in the older homes of some exurbs.
===Retail centers===
Atlanta is a city known in [[Southern United States|the South]] for its many shopping areas. The Atlanta area is home to one of the South's largest shopping malls, the [[Mall of Georgia]], which is located in nearby Gwinnett County.
The other larger shopping establishments in Metro Atlanta include:
*[[Mall of Georgia]], Located in Buford. It is the largest mall in the state. Anchored by: [[Belk]], [[Dillard's]], [[J.C. Penney]], [[Macy's]], and [[Nordstrom]]. And over 250 other stores.
*[[Arbor Place Mall]], located in Douglasville, the 4th largest mall in the state of Georgia, and major retail hub in Atlanta's western Suburbs. Home to anchor stores [[Macy's]], [[Parisian]], [[Sears, Roebuck and Company|Sears]], [[J.C. Penney]], and [[Dillard's]].
*[[Atlantic Station]], a massive [[redevelopment]] of a [[steel mill]] site
*[[Cumberland Mall]]
*[[Discover Mills]], a large outlet shopping mall located in Gwinnett County
*[[Greenbriar Mall]], a regional mall in Southwest Atlanta [[Macy's]], [[Burlington Coat Factory]]
*[[Gwinnett Place Mall]]
*[[Lenox Square]], a large three-[[storey|story]] shopping center that is home to some 250 retailers and restaurants that is located in [[Buckhead (Atlanta)|Buckhead]]. The anchors of Lenox Square include [[Macy's]] (formerly [[Rich's]]), [[Bloomingdales]] (formerly Macy's), and [[Neiman-Marcus]]. This is the first mall to be opened in the state of Georgia. [http://www.lenoxsquare.com/]
*[[Phipps Plaza]], an upscale shopping center also located in Buckhead. This mall is considered Atlanta's most upscale shopping center with 100+ stores along with [[Nordstrom]], [[Parisian]] and [[Saks Fifth Avenue]] as [[anchor store]]s. [http://www.phippsplaza.com/]
*[[Mall at Stonecrest]]
*[[North DeKalb Mall]]
*[[North Point Mall]]
*[[Northlake Mall (Atlanta)|Northlake Mall]]
*[[Perimeter Mall]] - 2nd largest shopping mall in Georgia. 200+ stores. Anchored by: [[Bloomingdale's]], [[Dillard's]], [[Macy's]], and [[Nordstrom]].
*[[Town Center at Cobb]]
*[[Union Station (Shannon Mall)|Union Station]] (formerly [[Shannon Mall]]) - [[Macy's]] [[Sears, Roebuck and Company|Sears]]
*[[South DeKalb Mall|The Gallery at South DeKalb (South DeKalb Mall)]]
* The Pavilion in Fayette County - the largest shopping center in Georgia at over 1.8 million square feet
*[[Southlake Mall (Atlanta)]]
*[[Cobb Galleria]]
*[[Underground Atlanta]]
*The [[Mall at West End]]
*The Mall at Peachtree
*The Forum at Ashley Park, a shopping mall under development in Newnan just off I-85.
Lenox Square hosts the largest [[fireworks display]] in the Southeast every [[Independence Day (U.S.)|Independence Day]], a major [[tradition]] in Atlanta.
===Retailers===
The major [[supermarket]]s in the area are long-time [[Kroger]] (including former [[Harris Teeter]] locations), and since the 1990s, [[Publix]]. Previously, this also included [[Winn-Dixie (supermarket)|Winn-Dixie]] (some were later [[SaveRite]]), [[A&P]], [[Big Star]], [[Cub Foods]], [[Bruno's]], and [[Food Lion]]. [[Food Depot]] is a recent startup, with only a few locations. [[Ingles]] has a few locations in the far suburbs, mainly because sprawl has come out to meet them, rather than actively trying to enter the market. Local chain [[Harry's Farmers Market]] is owned since 2001 by [[Whole Foods]], the "Harry's In a Hurry" locations were not acquired and closed soon after.
[[Drugstore]]s include [[Rite-Aid]] (all converted from [[Eckerd Drug]]), [[CVS/pharmacy]], and since the 2000s, [[Walgreens]]. While all Walgreens are new, Eckerd was composed of several of its own stores, in addition to [[Treasury Drug]] and local chain [[Dunaway Drugs]]. CVS is composed of what was [[Reed Drug]] in the 1980s, later [[Big B Drugs]], and briefly [[Revco]] for just a year from 1996 to 1997. [[Drug Emporium]] was present for several years, while fellow [[superstore]] [[Phar-Mor]] had only a brief run.
Century-old Atlanta [[furniture]] store [[Rhodes Furniture]] (see [[Rhodes Hall]]) went [[bankrupt]], with most stores later reopening as [[Broyhill Furniture]]. It competes against [[Ashley Furniture]], [[Thomasville Furniture]], [[Bassett Furniture]], and [[Rooms To Go]]. [[Roberds]] is another closed [[retail chain]], which also sold [[home appliance]]s.
[[Circuit City]] no longer sells appliances, but [[Best Buy]] does. Since the mid-2000s, [[hhgregg]] has entered the market, selling appliances, electronics (but no [[personal computer|computer]]s, except [[notebook computer|notebook]]s), and [[bed]]s, similar to Roberds. [[Service Merchandise]] also had stores in the area prior to their bankruptcy, and [[Lechmere]] was around for only a few years. [[RadioShack]] operates many in-mall and strip mall locations.
[[The Home Depot]], started and based in metro Atlanta, has stores across the area. [[Lowe's]] closed its mid-size stores, but returned a few years later with the superstores now located across the street from many Home Depots. Both sell appliances and [[landscaping]], while several [[Ace Hardware]] stores hold their ground, concentrating on being traditional [[hardware store]]s. [[Pike Nurseries]] is a local [[plant nursery]] chain with several stores, the few [[Home Depot Landscape Supply]] stores ever opened closed in mid-November 2007.
[[Rich's]] and [[Davison's]], both the major names in Atlanta-area [[department store]]s, succumbed to parent [[Macy's]] after well over a century in business. [[JC Penney]] and [[Sears]] have been in Atlanta for decades. [[Parisian]] was around for a decade or so before being bought by [[Belk]], which has a well-established name outside the metro area. The [[Rich's Great Tree]] has been a major local [[Christmas tradition]] since the 1940s, with its [[grand illumination]] [[ceremony]] every [[Thanksgiving]].
[[Discount store]]s include [[Target Stores|Target]] and [[Wal-Mart]], and [[Kmart]], which closed at least half of its metro-area stores before buying Sears. Former discount stores include local [[Richway]] (now Target), and [[Zayre]], [[The Treasury (retailer)|Treasure Island]], [[McCrory's]], and [[Woolco]]. [[Closeout store]]s include [[Big Lots]] (including some former [[MacFrugal's]]), [[TJ Maxx]], [[Marshalls]] (some formerly [[Branden's]]), [[HomeGoods]], [[Ross Dress For Less|Ross]], and [[Burlington Coat Factory]] (the Marietta store in a former [[Woolworth]]).
[[Dollar store]]s include [[Dollar Tree]] and several independent stores which come and go. Around 2004, [[Little Bucks]] was a local 99¢ chain which opened several large stores and then closed just over a year later. [[Super 88¢+]] also has at least one location here. Other [[variety store]]s include [[Dollar General]] and [[Family Dollar]].
[[Arts and crafts]] stores include [[Michael's]], [[JoAnn]], [[Hobby Lobby]] (several in former Kmart locations), [[Old Time Pottery]], [[Hancock Fabrics]], and four [[Garden Ridge]] superstores. [[Hobby store]]s include four [[HobbyTown USA]] stores (one superstore), Hobby Lobby, and a few independent [[hobby]] [[dealer]]s.
Other local chains include [[Georgia Backyard]] and former [[Seasonal Concepts]] for [[patio]] furniture. The former sells [[fireplace]] accessories in fall and winter, the latter sold [[Christmas decoration]]s to make it through the off season. Georgia Backyard also sells [[hot tub]]s, as does [[Recreational Factory Warehouse]], which also sells [[billiards]]. [[Games & Things]] sells billiards and other high-end [[game]]s as well.
Outdoor [[recreation]] stores include [[Dick's Sporting Goods]] (all former [[Galyan's]] locations), [[The Sports Authority]], and formerly [[Oshman's]]. [[Shoe]]-only stores include [[Payless Shoes]], [[Foot Locker]], [[The Athlete's Foot]], more recent entry [[Discount Shoe Warehouse]], and formerly [[Just For Feet]], [[Kinney Shoes]], and [[Thom McAn Shoes]].
[[Music]] stores are mostly gone now, but included local [[Turtles Music and Video]], which later became [[Blockbuster Music]] and then [[Sound Warehouse]], before becoming the current [[Wherehouse Music]]. [[Camelot Music]] was also common in indoor malls instead of the [[strip mall]]s where Turtles usually was. [[MARS Music]] sold [[musical instrument]]s, [[sheet music]], [[pro audio]] gear during the late 1990s, and [[Guitar Center]] still does. Long-time local chain [[Ken Stanton Music]] repositioned itself from [[school band]] instruments to also include pro audio.
Best Buy closed its [[Media Play]] chain, but [[Barnes & Noble]] and [[Borders Books]] continue. Borders' [[subsidiary]] [[Waldenbooks]] and competitor [[B. Dalton Bookseller]] are found in most large malls.
[[Second-hand store]]s include several [[Goodwill Industries]] and a few [[Salvation Army]] [[thrift store]]s, three [[America's Thrift Store]]s, local, and some very limited-hours stores of the [[Society of Saint Vincent de Paul]]. For-profit local chains which buy and resell higher-quality goods include local chains [[Abbadabba's]] and [[Plato's Closet]]. It is unclear whether [[Value Village (Georgia)|Value Village]] and [[Park Avenue Thrift]] are for-profit or non-profit thrift chains.
==Natural features==
===Geography and geology===
The area sprawls across the low [[foothills]] of the [[Appalachian Mountains]] to the north and the [[piedmont (United States)|piedmont]] to the south. The northern and some western suburbs tend to be higher and significantly more [[hill]]y than the southern and eastern suburbs.
The highest point in the immediate area is [[Kennesaw Mountain]], followed by [[Sweat Mountain]], [[Stone Mountain]], and [[Little Kennesaw Mountain]]. Others include [[Blackjack Mountain]], [[Lost Mountain]], [[Brushy Mountain]], [[Pine Mountain (Cobb County, Georgia)|Pine Mountain]], and [[Mount Wilkinson]] ([[Vinings Mountain]]). Many of these play prominently in the various [[battle]]s of the [[Atlanta Campaign]] during the [[American Civil War]]. If the further-north counties are included, [[Bear Mountain (Georgia)|Bear Mountain]] is highest, followed by [[Pine Log Mountain]], [[Sawnee Mountain]], and [[Hanging Mountain]], followed by the others listed above.
An extinct [[fault line]] called the [[Brevard Fault]] runs roughly parallel to the [[Chattahoochee River]], but its last movements were apparently [[prehistoric]], thus it is considered extinct and not a threat to the region. Still, minor [[earthquake]]s do rattle the area occasionally, [[2003 Alabama earthquake|the last one]] in April 2003 coming from the northwest, its [[epicenter]] just across the state line in northeastern Alabama. While many people slept through the 5<small>AM</small> quake, it caused a minor panic in others completely unaware of what was happening. A magnitude 4.6 such as this occurs about every 30 to 40 years in the region, and is often felt much more widely across the stronger [[Earth's crust| crust]] of eastern [[North America]] as compared to the west. Because of this, the [[Great Charleston Earthquake]] of 1886 was also felt in Atlanta, and across the Southeast.
The area's [[subsoil]] is a dense [[clay soil]], colored [[rust]]y by the [[iron oxide]] present in it. It becomes very [[mud]]dy and sticky when wet, and hard when dry, and [[stain]]s light-colored [[carpet]]s and [[clothing]] easily. It also tends to have a low [[pH]], further aggravating gardeners. The fineness of it also means it is easily deposited into streams during heavy rains, creating [[silt]] problems where it is exposed due to construction. This transported red soil can be seen downstream on the [[riverbank]]s of south Georgia (where the native clay is white), and down to the [[Florida panhandle]] (where the native [[sand]] is also white). [[Topsoil]] is present only in natural forest areas, created by the [[decomposition]] of leaves.
===Weather and climate===
Atlanta has a [[humid subtropical climate]] with four distinct [[season]]s. January daily lows average around 33°F (1°C) and highs average near 52°F (11°C), but often reach 60-65°F (21-24°C). Snow is uncommon, with an average annual snowfall of about 2.9 inches (5 cm), falling mostly in January and early February. Summers, by contrast, are consistently hot and humid, with July mornings averaging 71°F (22°C) and afternoons averaging 89°F (32°C), slight breezes, and typically a 20-30% chance of afternoon [[thunderstorm]]s. During the summer afternoon thunderstorms, temperatures may suddenly drop to 70-75 degrees with locally heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall is about 50.2 [[inch]]es (1370 mm), with late winter and early spring (as well as July) being the wettest and fall (especially October) being the driest. Despite having far fewer rainy days, average yearly rainfall is higher here than in the [[Seattle]] area, especially due to heavy thunderstorms and occasional [[tropical depression]]s.
Spring weather is pleasant but variable, as cold fronts often bring strong or severe thunderstorms to almost all of the eastern and central U.S. Pollen counts tend to be extraordinarily high in the spring, regularly exceeding 2000 particles per cubic meter in April and causing [[hay fever]]. Pine pollen leaves a fine yellow-green film on everything for much of that month. The rain helps wash out Atlanta's abundant oak, pine, and grass pollens, and fuels beautiful blooms from native [[flowering dogwood]] trees, as well as [[azalea]]s, [[forsythia]]s, [[magnolia]]s, and [[peach]] trees (both flowering-only and fruiting). The city-wide floral display runs during March and April, and inspires the [[Dogwood Festival]], one of Atlanta's largest. Fall is also pleasant, with less rain and fewer storms, lower humidity, and leaves changing color from late October to mid-November, especially during drier (but not severely dry) years.
The area's geography affects the weather as well. An [[anticyclone]] over the [[Northeastern U.S.]] will blow cold air over the warmer [[Atlantic Ocean]], forming a [[wedge (meteorology)|wedge]] or [[marine layer]] up against the mountains. This east or northeast [[wind]] will often blow down into the metro area in winter or even spring (sometimes fall and very rarely summer), dramatically lowering the temperature and bringing [[cloud]]s and often [[fog]] or [[mist]], along with a swift breeze. The temperature [[gradient]] across the sprawling metro Atlanta can be as much as 20°F or 10°C, occasionally even more. In winter this can be a curse, bringing [[freezing rain]] to exposed objects on the north and/or east sides of town, and occasionally very dangerously to the ground and roads. Later in the spring however, it can be a great blessing, as it often protects the area from [[severe thunderstorm]]s and [[tornado]]es, with the cool air acting like a [[fire extinguisher]] to the storms. The wedge may occasionally go the entire way through central Georgia and even into Alabama in the strongest conditions, while still leaving areas to the northwest much warmer than the metro area.
The local geography also plays a role in the day-to-day weather, with the shallow [[valley]]s to the southwest (rather than the mountains to the northeast) cooling rapidly on [[sky cover|clear]] and [[wind|calm]] [[night]]s, particularly when the [[humidity]] is low. Peachtree City and especially Newnan often report dramatically lower temperatures (by as much as 10°C or nearly 20°F) on the 10PM and 11PM news, and will not drop much further, while the city (built on a [[ridge]]) will continue falling slowly but never reach that low. This type of dramatic difference in [[microclimate]] is somewhat unusual for a place not near large mountains or bodies of water.
====Major weather events====
The highest recorded temperatures at Atlanta were 105°F (41°C) on three days in the extraordinarily-hot July 1980, followed by 104°F (40°C) that month and in August 2007, the hottest month ever for the area. The lowest recorded temperatures were -6°F (-21°C) and -8°F (-22°C) on January 20 and 21 of 1985, and -9°F (-23°C) on February 13 of 1899. There was also an official record of -10°F (-23°C) in 1985 in [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]]. The rainiest month ever was July 1994, when [[Tropical Storm Alberto (1994)|Tropical Storm Alberto]] dumped massive amounts of rain on parts of the state and the south metro area, bringing 17.71 inches or 450 mm at Atlanta, over three times a normal July. [[Flooding]] was a major problem in those areas, and further down-state it was disastrous.
[[Hurricane Opal]] brought sustained [[tropical storm]] conditions to the area one night in early October 1995, uprooting hundreds of [[tree]]s and causing widespread [[power outage]]s, after soaking the area with rain for two days prior. The western metro area caught the worst of the storm, gusting to nearly 70 MPH (just over 110km/h) officially at Marietta. Such events are very rare so far inland.
Since 1950, some metro counties have been hit more than 20 times, with Cobb (26) and Fulton (22) being two of the highest in the state. (Note that some tornados may have occurred at the same time, or in two different counties.) The [[Dunwoody tornado]] in early April 1998 was the worst [[tornado]] to have struck the area. Since then, many counties have reinstalled [[civil defense siren]]s removed after the [[Cold War]].
A [[blizzard]] (see: [[1993 North American Storm Complex]]) caught much of the Southeast off-guard in 1993, dumping four inches (10cm) at the Atlanta airport on [[March 13]], about twice that in the northern suburbs, and many times that in the mountains. Some people were awakened by [[thunder]] and [[lightning]] in a very rare [[thundersnow]] event. The only other recorded [[winter storm]] of comparable severity was in February 1899. Several areas of northern Cobb County recorded over 15 inches of snow in [[snowdrift]]s. It is widely regarded as the snow event of the century for Atlanta, and is referred to as the "Storm of the Century". The heaviest snow, however, was in January 1940, when eight inches (20cm) buried the city during its coldest month on record.
The most recent major snow occurred at the beginning of 2002, when up to three inches (7.5cm) fell on January 2-3. As of 2007, the stretch of five nearly or entirely snowless winters makes for an extremely long period compared to average. This 5-year streak of no snow was ended in January 2008 when .4 inches fell on January 16th and 1 inch fell on January 19th.
[[As of October 2007]] a severe [[drought]] is affecting the region, and is getting worse. The [[Southeastern U.S. drought of 2007]] actually began with dry weather in 2006, and has left area [[lake]]s very low. Most of the area's [[drinking water]] is stored in [[Lake Lanier]] and [[Lake Allatoona]], and the [[USACE]] expects that they may reach record low levels by December 2007. Up through September 2007, it is the driest year on record in over 75 years, second only to 1927 and 1931. On [[September 28]], the state issued a total [[outdoor watering ban]] for the north and northwestern 40% or so of the state, affecting 61 of 159 counties generally north of the [[Fall Line]]. Local authorities and water systems had already taken such measures in some places. It is the first time the state has stepped-in with a ban.
===Environment and ecology===
The area's prolific rains are drained by many different [[stream]]s and creeks. The main [[drainage basin|basin]] is that of the [[Chattahoochee River]], running northeast to southwest. The further northwestern suburbs drain into the [[Etowah River]] via the [[Little River (northern Georgia)|Little River]] and [[Lake Allatoona]]. The southern suburbs are drained by the [[Flint River (Georgia)|Flint River]], and the east-southeastern ones by the [[Oconee River]] and [[Yellow River (Georgia)|Yellow River]].
By 2005, the metro area was using 360 million gallons of water per day (about 80 gallons per person per day).
The massive [[deforestation]] brought by excessive [[land development]] has had a significant impact on area watersheds. They now flood far more rapidly and to a much greater extent than prior to development. This has pushed many people into [[flood plain]]s, something they often find out only when it is too late. A very few [[jurisdiction]]s have begun to implement a [[stormwater]] [[fee]], though the fees are not yet based on the actual amount of damaging [[runoff (water)|runoff]] each property produces, mainly from [[pavement (material)|pavement]] and lack of tree cover and natural [[leaf litter]].
Since [[clear-cutting]] now removes all of the trees, [[lawn]]s are planted instead. These allow much more runoff during rains, and require much more water during [[drought]], generally using drinking water from the municipal supply since Georgia and its local governments have no [[recycling]] requirements. Runoff also includes harmful [[chemical]]s such as [[fertilizer]]s and [[pesticide]]s unnecessary for native [[vegetation]].
[[WXIA-TV]] reported that from 1990 to 2005, the amount of impermeable surface (pavement and [[building]]s) in several metro counties increased dramatically, with Cobb doubling from 10% to 20% of its total land area, a rate even faster than its population increase. These numbers are in addition to the only marginally-permeable lawns. This reduced permeability prevents the [[water table]] from refilling as quickly as it should.
Disputes over water are becoming increasingly common, with both [[Alabama]] and [[Florida]] threatening [[lawsuit]]s and [[injunction]]s to prevent Georgia from taking too much water, mostly for metro Atlanta. [[South Carolina]] also threatened when a [[pipeline]] east to the [[Savannah River]] was mentioned even informally.
====Flora====
The native [[forest]] [[canopy (forest)|canopy]] is mainly [[oak]], [[hickory]], [[tuliptree]], and [[pine]], with some [[sweetgum]], particularly on the southside. Underneath, the [[flowering dogwood]] is very common, and the [[black cherry]] is quite prolific, with [[mulberry]] popping up sometimes as well. [[Sourwood]] is also in its native range, but is uncommon and is only easily identified by the fact that it turns fiery red in early October, much brighter and weeks earlier than most other trees (which usually peak in early to middle November). Shrubby plants include [[blackberry]], [[horsechestnut]], [[sumac]], and sometimes [[Crataegus|hawthorn]]. [[Virginia creeper]], [[Poison-ivy (plant)|poison ivy]], and [[briar]] are common [[vine]]s. The [[Confederate Yellow Daisy]] is a [[wildflower]] native only to the area around Stone Mountain.
Common garden plants include dogwood, [[azalea]], [[hydrangea]], [[maple]]s, [[pin oak]], [[redtip photinia]], [[holly]], [[juniper]], [[white pine]], [[magnolia]], [[Bradford pear]], [[forsythia]], [[liriope (plant)|liriope]] ([[mondograss]]) and [[English ivy]]. [[Lawn]]s can be either cool-season [[grass]]es like [[fescue]] and [[rye]], or warm-season like [[zoysia]] and [[bermudagrass]] which turn brown in late fall. A few [[homeowners association]]s actually prohibit green grass in the winter.
Common lawn weeds are [[Potentilla indica| wild strawberry]], [[violet (plant)|violet]], [[wild onion]], and of course the ubiquitous [[dandelion]], [[crabgrass]], and [[plantain]].
By far the most notorious [[introduced species]] is [[kudzu]], a highly [[invasive species]] from [[Japan]] which climbs and smothers trees and shrubs. [[Wisteria]] has also escaped in some places, and [[Japanese honeysuckle]] is quite common. [[Chinese Privet]] has surpassed all these as the most invasive non-native, yet it is still sold as a [[garden]] plant. [http://www.georgiainvasives.org/weeds/privet.html] Georgia apparently has no laws requiring landowners to control these plants, and no programs to help in their control, which allows them to continue to spread.
====Fauna====
Among [[mammal]]s, the [[eastern gray squirrel]] is by far the most ubiquitous, stealing [[birdseed]] from the [[bird feeder]]s which many locals put up. [[Chipmunk]]s and small brown [[rabbit]]s are common, but it is relatively rare to hear of them doing any damage. [[Opossum]], [[raccoon]]s, [[fox]]es, and now even small [[coyote]]s are sometimes found, especially where the [[habitat destruction]] of new development has forced them out. [[Snake]]s are rare, but [[tree frog]]s are easily heard in early summer. [[American Black Bear|Black bear]]s occasionally wander down from the mountains, and [[white-tailed deer]] are seen is some areas not overwhelmed by dense development.
The most common [[bird]]s are the [[American Crow]], [[Common Starling|European (or Common) Starling]], [[House Sparrow]], [[Northern Cardinal]], [[Purple Finch]], [[Carolina Chickadee]], [[Tufted Titmouse]], [[Blue Jay]], [[Nuthatch]], and [[American Kestrel]]. Late in the year, [[owl]]s can be heard in wooded areas at night. Various [[woodpecker]]s can be seen in forested lots, including the [[Red-headed Woodpecker]], [[Northern Flicker]] (also known as the "red-shafted flicker"), [[Downy Woodpecker]] and occasionally others. The [[American Goldfinch]] is present in winter, and the [[Ruby-throated Hummingbird]] in summer.
==See also==
* [[United States metropolitan area]]
* [[I-85 Corridor]]
{{Atlanta Metro}}
{{Atlanta, Georgia}}
{{Georgia}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Atlanta metropolitan area| ]]
[[Category:Regions of Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[da:Metro Atlanta]]